Denver Wins Frozen Four

Denver came from behind in the third period Saturday night to beat Wisconsin 2-1 in Las Vegas and win the 2026 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s hockey title. (ncaa.com) Wisconsin led 1-0 after Aidan Fink scored in the second period, and Denver did not break through until Rieger Lorenz tied it with 8:08 left in regulation. Kyle Chyzowski then tipped in the go-ahead goal with 5:52 remaining. (ncaa.com) Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks stopped 29 shots in the final after making 49 saves in a double-overtime semifinal against Michigan two nights earlier. Hicks was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after stopping 78 of 82 shots across the Frozen Four. (denverpost.com, nhl.com) The win gave Denver its 11th national championship, extending its lead as the winningest program in Division I men’s hockey. It was also the Pioneers’ third title in five years and second in three seasons. (ncaa.com, denverpioneers.com) Denver reached the title game after beating Michigan 4-3 in double overtime on April 9, while Wisconsin advanced by beating North Dakota 2-1 in the other semifinal. The championship game was played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (sports.yahoo.com, sports.yahoo.com) The result also extended the recent run by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Denver’s league. National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams have won eight of the past 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s hockey championships, including each of the last three. (nchchockey.com) For Wisconsin, the loss ended a bid for the program’s seventh national title and first since 2006. The Badgers still hold the all-time series lead over Denver, but Denver has won the games that mattered most this spring. (badgerswire.usatoday.com, usatoday.com) Denver spent 47 minutes with little offense and only nine shots before the comeback started. It finished the night with the trophy anyway, the same way its season ended: behind a hot goalie and one decisive push late. (ncaa.com, sports.yahoo.com)